Individuals in the denominator for whom spirometry test results have been documented since 01/01/2011
Individuals aged 50 to 74 who were diagnosed from January 1, 2012, onward as suffering from COPD or as being at high risk for COPD, and who have undergone at least one spirometry test from January 1, 2011
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common and preventable disease that accounts for significant mortality worldwide and poses a substantial economic and social burden (1). Accurate prevalence rates are difficult to determine, partly due to considerable underdiagnosis (2)(3)(4). Early and accurate diagnosis of COPD is essential for avoiding risk factors and providing appropriate treatment. These measures help slow the accelerated decline in lung function, improve symptoms and exercise tolerance, reduce the frequency of disease exacerbations, and decrease mortality following pharmacological treatment (5)(6). The diagnostic test for COPD is spirometry. Spirometry not only confirms the diagnosis but also assesses the severity of airway obstruction, which is a predictive factor for frequent exacerbations and poor disease outcomes (7). Given the importance of spirometry for diagnosis, severity assessment, and disease monitoring, it is recommended that all patients at risk for COPD undergo spirometry testing. Documenting spirometry results in patients’ medical records will enable accurate identification of the COPD patient population, which may serve as a target for several future quality measures.
World Health Organization. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [Internet]. [cited 2023 Feb 8]. Available from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-(copd)
2
Soriano JB, Abajobir AA, Abate KH, Abera SF, Agrawal A, Ahmed MB, et al. Global, regional, and national deaths, prevalence, disability-adjusted life years, and years lived with disability for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the
3 Global Burden of Disease Study 2015. Lancet Respir Med. 2017 Sep 1;5(9):691–706.
David Stav MD, Meir Raz MD. Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among smokers aged 45 and up in Israel. IMAJ. 2007;
4. Global Strategy for the Diagnosis Management and Prevention of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. 2022.
5
Lipson DA, Crim C, Criner GJ, Day NC, Dransfield MT, Halpin DMG, et al. Reduction in all-cause mortality with fluticasone furoate/umeclidinium/vilanterol in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2020 Jun 15;201(12):1508–16.
6 Rabe KF, Martinez FJ, Ferguson GT, Wang C, Singh D, Wedzicha JA, et al. Triple Inhaled Therapy at Two Glucocorticoid Doses in Moderate-to-Very-Severe COPD. N Engl J Med. 2020 Jul 2;383(1):35–48.
7. Vestbo J, Hurd SS, Agustí AG, Jones PW, Vogelmeier C, Anzueto A, et al. Global strategy for the diagnosis, management, and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Vol.
